Vietnam, China beef up judicial ties

Vietnamese Justice Minister Le Thanh Long and Lu En Guang, head of the Political Department of the Chinese Justice Ministry (Source: VNA)

Hanoi(VNA) – Vietnam and China have agreed on the need to step up cooperation between their Ministries of Justice.

At a reception for Lu En Guang, head of the Political Department of the Chinese Justice Ministry in Hanoi on September 22, Justice Minister Le Thanh Long suggested reviewing the protocol on cooperation reached by the two ministries in 1997 and considering the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to replace the protocol if necessary.

He called on the two sides to roll out annual cooperation programmes, firstly for 2017.

The host affirmed the Vietnamese Party and Government’s consistent policy of promoting the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, saying developing the relationship in a stable, healthy and sustainable fashion is always Vietnam’s strategic choice and one of the top priorities in the country’s foreign policy.

The minster noted his hope that amidst the changing and complicated regional and international situations, the two countries will carry forward their solidarity and friendship, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, well manage and satisfactorily address their differences on the basis of respecting each other’s sovereignty and legitimate interests in line with international law, and join hands in building a peaceful and stable environment.

Echoing Long’s views, Lu En Guang underlined the need for the two ministries to increase the exchange of experts and the sharing of information about issues of mutual concern and work with each other to soon sign a new cooperation agreement.

The two sides should boost their affiliation in judicial assistance, firstly through the full implementation of the reached agreement on judicial assistance in civil and criminal matters, and exchange professional experience, especially in judicial administrative work.

On the same day, the Chinese guest and Justice Deputy Minister Phan Chi Hieu co-chaired a seminar on legal dissemination, and the management and training of judicial officials.

During their stay in Vietnam from September 21-24, the Chinese delegation had working sessions with the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuracy. They also visited the justice department of the northern province of Quang Ninh.-VNA